Iran and Pakistan aren't large countries, but they are too large for a few teams to work in. Especially considering that not only would they have to try to find OBL, and then bring him out. Neither country would be friendlies to our men. Every man woman and child would have to be viewed as a hostile. Nothing short of full military operations on our part, or full governmental cooperation on their part would work.
Unless intel gave us clear cut evidence of where OBL was, sending teams in in vague raids would not only be potentially suicidal, but the diplomatic repercussions if ANYTHING failed could be staggering. You might think,"who cares about diplomacy with Iran", but if something happened the fallout would affect everybody we deal with.
Our SEALS are real good, but unlike Superman, they are not faster than speeding bullets,or more powerful than locomotives,or able to leap tall buildings in a single bound...
They are extremely well trained men, who will do what others wouldn't dream of doing. Go where others can't even imagine. We control Afghanistan, for the most part, and yet last week we had a SEAL team beating feet to get out, a helo with another team was sent to extract them. That helo was shot down with everybody killed. ONE team member survived because a village of Afghanies hid him. That in a country that has been turned to ourside.
What would happen in Iran or Pakistan?
Sounds quite possible to me.
I think in Iran, that one depends upon whether they were in the hands of civilians or the current ruling government.
America has a higher favorability rating among rank-and-file Iranians (who still prefer to be called "Persians") who love America and everything about her, than she does in - well, America or France. When last surveyed, that rating was well over 70%. Certainly not consistent with what their repressive government would wish we believed.
In the hands of common citizens, our boys would be safely shielded. In the hands of a dutiful muslim government mouthpiece, they would be brutalised pieces of toast.
A.A.C.